American Craft Beer Week 2019: Cheers!

May 13, 2019: Pint glasses up! Say "Cheers" to American Craft Beer Week, May 13-19, 2019. 

"ACBW" returns for its 14th year in 2019. While there are over 7200 operating breweries in the U.S. (as of year-end 2018), 98% are "small and independent craft breweries," as defined by the Brewers Association.  These craft breweries produced over 25.9M barrels of beer in 2018. 

So, how do you participate? Pretty easy: just visit your local breweries, tap rooms, craft beer bars, restaurants and bottle shops, and take part in this nationwide party all week! Malt and hops go hand-in-hand with the creativity, passion, and collaboration that represents the craft beer spirit. You're sure to find more than a few tastes to love along the way, and maybe even explore some new ones. 

According to the Brewers Association, while IPA continues to be the favorite style among Americans, there's been a trend toward more "sessionable" beer, such as golden ales, pilsners and lagers. Indeed! These complement any meal or snack, are pleasant, and of course, repeatable. 

Taking beer pics? Brewers Association asks beer enthusiasts to show support for craft beer with the hashtag #SeekTheSeal. 

You may not need an excuse, but this week, hoist a pint, snifter, bottle or can of a favorite -- or new -- craft beer,  and say "Cheers!" 

Badge-hunting on social app Untappd? Look to notch another one this week by checking in any craft beer for the annual ACBW badge. 

Cheers to that!

Til next time,

Linda

Linda Johnson, Certified Cicerone ®

Escapades, Brews and Running Shoes™

Florida Travel and More!

www.brewnymph.com

("American Craft Beer Week" and Logo are registered trademarks of the Brewers Association)

© 2019 BrewNymph, LLC. All text and photos. All rights reserved. BrewNymph; Peace, Love, Pints; Where the Beer Meets the Beach, and Beer is my Trademark are federally-registered trademarks of BrewNymph, LLC; Escapades, Brews and Running Shoes; BeerSphere; Let’s Get a Beer, Florida!; All Jax’d Up!; Nature Flights; and I'm Fun; Deal With It! are trademarks of BrewNymph, LLC

making HEADlines: Brewers Association Releases 2018 Beer Style Guidelines

making HEADlines: Brewers Association Releases 2018 Beer Style Guidelines; Adds New Categories, Including Juicy/Hazy Ales

 Boulder, CO, March 20, 2018:   The Brewers Association has issued its revised Beer Style Guidelines for 2018. Updated annually, the Guidelines are used as a "model resource" for brewers and competitions, and these revisions will be in effect for this year's Great American Beer Festival (GABF). 

The new Guidelines include "hundreds of revisions, edits, format changes and additions," according to a statement issued by the Brewers Association today. In addition, several new categories have been created to respond to current trends. Most notable is perhaps the formal recognition of Juicy or Hazy Ale Styles, generally known as New England IPAs or West Coast Hazy IPAs. The three official styles are identified as "Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale," "Juicy or Hazy IPA," and "Juicy or Hazy Double IPA" in the new Guidelines.

Other modifications include the addition of "Contemporary American-Style Pilsener," a category which reflects commercial sessionable lager beers with higher hop aroma than found in pre-Prohibition style beers; and a restructuring of the Australian Pale Ale category into separate styles of "Classic Australian-Style Pale Ale" and "Australian-Style Pale Ale," which generally address the differences in color and hop aroma- and flavor-forward characteristics. The Guidelines also edit the Gose and Contemporary Gose categories. 

The Brewers Association points out that factors in revising the Guidelines include historical significance, authenticity or a "high profile in the current commercial beer market." Major changes, such as style additions, are the result of "research, analysis, consultation and consideration of market actualities." Further, current commercial products may not fit within the historical parameters, but rather represent a modern version of a style, explains the statement. 

Cheers,
Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines

June 27, 2017: BREWERS ASSOCIATION INTRODUCES SEAL FOR INDEPENDENT CRAFT BREWERS